Bunting picks up first PDC Pro Tour title

Stephen Bunting enjoyed a successful start to life on the PDC Tour after winning the UK Open Qualifier 2 on Saturday.

Bunting narrowly defeated Andrew Gilding 6-5 in the final at Wigan's Robin Park Tennis Centre, finishing 161 in the deciding leg to claim the £10,000 first prize and a place at the UK Open in March.

The Bullet was victorious against Dick van Dijk, Alan Derrett, Wayne Jones, John Bowles, Terry Jenkins, Paul Nicholson and Steve Beaton on his way to the final while Gilding saw off Phil Taylor at the semi-final stage.

Bunting averaged just over 96 against Gilding and also took out a 130 on his way to victory. He accepted a place on the PDC tour after winning the BDO world championship title at Lakeside in January.

Elsewhere, Andy Hamilton defeated Adrian Lewis in the opening qualifier on Friday which signified The Hammer's first PDC Pro Tour title since 2007. Dave Chisnall, David Ladley and Terry Jenkins all hit nine-dart finishes during Qualifier 1.

Meanwhile, Lewis did not appear at Qualifier 2 and has also withdrawn from Sunday's Qualifier 3 due to family reasons, according to the PDC.

After enduring a tricky start to his Manchester United career, perhaps it is fair that Marcos Rojo celebrated so boisterously as he watched his first professional club Estudiantes beat fierce rivals Gimnasia